Novena to St. Joseph

Novena to St. Joseph

March 11-19

We are all familiar with the old adage: “Actions speak louder than words.” If this is true of anyone, it is true of St. Joseph. He is, par excellence, the saint of silent action. Not one word of his is recorded in the Gospel. But his actions, so indispensable in the lives of Jesus and Mary, are.

In this world, with its proliferation of useless words, noise and chatter, the blare of advertisements, the all-pervasive bombardment of the media, cell phones, vehicles in traffic with the distractions they generate, jets roaring over us, and the disturbances of our own personal and family troubles, St. Joseph’s word-less and faith-filled silence may see an almost unattainable dream. But faith has a way of quieting our words, stilling our anxieties, while fixing our hearts and minds on the Father who loves us and always does or permits what is best for us.

This Lent we could make one of our practices an effort to imitate St. Joseph’s faith in accepting whatever happens in our lives. This unquestionably difficult but sanctifying “action” will surely speak louder than the words of faith we profess and will prepare us to celebrate the greatest Divine “action” in human history, the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. We promise to pray for this and all your intentions in the Novena and the solemn celebration of St. Joseph’s feast day Mass.